Here’s a piece of film from SWS showing a pair of BMW M5 Ring-Taxis drifting around the fabled Nurburgring.
Since 1986, the BMW Ring-Taxi has carried more than 90,000 passengers and clocked in excess of 650,000 kilometres over the course of more than 30,000 laps.
In its current incarnation, the M5 is propelled by a 4.4-litre biturbo V8 powerplant developing 418 kW (560 hp) and 680 Nm of torque or 423 kW (575 hp) with the Competition Package specified.
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Aachen-based tuning specialist AC Schnitzer has revealed its range of options to suit BMW’s current 5 Series ahead of this year’s Essen Motor Show (November 30 to December 8).
Visually, there’s a front spoiler, side skirts, bonnet vents, a rear skirt insert and boot lid spoiler for the Saloon or roof spoiler for the Estate variant. There’s also a wide range of alloys in sizes from 18 to 21-inches, including the Type IV rims in silver, two-tone Type IV BiColor and Type VIII BiColor in black or silver, while the sport spring kit lowers the suspension by 25 mm.
On the inside, AC Schnitzer can supply owners with AC an ‘EVO’ sports steering wheel, velour floor mats, ‘Black Line’ handbrake cover, an aluminium pedal set and interesting gearknob complete with illuminated digital gear readout.
Performance upgrades for the diesel-engined cars see output from the 520d rise from 137 kW (184 hp) to 163 kW (218 hp), the 525d from 160 kW (218 hp) to 190 kW (258 hp), the 530d from 190 kW (258 hp) to 227 kW (309 hp) and the beefy 535d from 230 kW (313 hp) to 264 kW (360 hp). Petrolheads are also catered for with the 528i model jumping from 183 kW (245 hp) to 219 kW (294 hp), the 535i going from 228 kW (306 hp) to 268 kW (360 hp) and the 550i with 386 kW (525 hp) rather than 330 kW (449 hp). Customers can also specify a sportier rear muffler with chrome ‘Racing’ tailpipes and a front brake upgrade utilizing eight-piston calipers.
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Siegen-based tuninghouse B&B Automobiltechnik has detailed its new program to suit the Volkswagen Polo R WRC Street, endowing it with more power than the actual Polo R WRC car.
Already developing 162 kW (217 hp) and 349 Nm of torque from its 2.0 TSI in factory guise, B&B offers several stages of performance upgrades culminating in the €7,950 Stage Three option, which entails remapped ECU software, enlarged intercooler, uprated oil cooler, a high-pressure fuel pump, modified air intake and complete exhaust system with metal catalytic converter. Those changes see output lifted to 270 kW (362 hp) and 510 Nm torque, meaning the 0-100 km/h time tumbles from from 6.4 to 5.2 seconds, with 200 km/h appearing in 17.1 seconds (series 24.2s) and top speed now 270 km/h rather than 243 km/h.
Other components on offer include sport springs or an adjustable coilover kit, thicker anti-roll bars, a big brake upgrade with four or six-piston calipers, and those lightweight multi-spoke alloy wheels, which measure 8 x 18-inches and come wrapped in 225/35 rubber.
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Styling and performance specialist Vorsteiner has begun production of its new program for the Lamborghini Aventador program.
Constructed from carbon fibre, the Aventador-V package not only includes a full array of components replacing such factory items as the side air intake shrouds, front and rear grille frames and hood trims, but also a more aggressive front spoiler with splitter lip and winglets, diffuser, side skirts and a raised SuperVeloce-style rear wing.
The aesthetics are topped off by a choice of the company’s specially designed 20 and 21-inch diameter alloys including the VSE-003 forged wheels items pictured.
Finally, Vorsteiner carried out a remap of the ECU software, which results in a hike from 515 kW (700 hp) and 690 Nm of torque to 552 kW (740 hp) and 737 Nm.
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Lamborghini has today built its final Gallardo model at the company’s Sant’Agata Bolognese factory.
The Rosso Mars LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, which has gone to a private collector of the marque, was the 14,022th Gallardo to roll off the production line since its introduction ten years ago at The Geneva Motor Show.
An instant success, the Gallardo accounts for almost half of the 30,000 Lamborghinis built by the company during its fifty years of existence. Back in 1963 a mere 250 vehicle were built annually, with that figure growing to around 2,000 units on average.
The Gallardo will be superseded by the Cabrera in 2014. Expected to weigh around 100 kg less than the 1410 kg Gallardo LP560-4, power will be in the region of 447 kW (600 hp) from a revised 5.2-litre V10 mated to a twin-clutch paddleshift transmission. The next-generation Audi R8 will share many components with the Cabrera, while rumours suggest that sub-918 Spyder supercar could also make use of the Cabrera’s platform.
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This latest video from Brumos Porsche TV features the Urban Outlaw Magnus Walker, who talks about a special car that bonds him to the company: his stunning 1965 example which could well be the oldest surviving Porsche 911 imported by Brumos.
“Magnus knows his history and does his research. It’s very special for us to learn that one of the earliest Porsche 911 imports from Brumos is now in his care,” said General Manager Ray Shaffer.
Operating from his Los Angeles workshop, Walker, who turned his hobby into an obsession and a successful business, creates one-off machines using donor 911s from a bygone era. What a life.
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